At least 30 villagers were killed, and others were abducted after a group of armed gunmen raided Kasuwan-Daji village in Nigeria’s northern Niger state over the weekend, the Associated Press reported.
No specific group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but local law enforcement say it was a group of bandits who arrived from the National Park Forest along the Kabe district—an area known for sheltering gangs, according to the AP.
The Context
Attacks such as the one that happened over the weekend are common in Africa’s most populous country where rogue gangs looking for control often target remote communities that have limited security and government presence. In November, hundreds of children and a dozen of teachers were abducted from a school in the Papiri community of Niger state.
Nigeria’s Christian communities, in particular, have cited a pattern of persecution, which have been underscored in the United States with President Donald Trump and rapper Nicki Minaj speaking out about the safety of Christians in the country.
On Christmas Day, Trump ordered a strike against the Islamic State (ISIS) group in northwestern Nigeria who he said was “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
What To Know
The gunmen, referred to locally as bandits, stormed the Kasuwan-Daji village in the Borgu local government area on Saturday evening, according to Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun.
The attackers opened fire on residents, burned down the local market, and destroyed several houses.
“Over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, and some persons were also kidnapped. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims,” Abiodun said in a statement released Sunday, AP reported.
Spokesman for the Catholic Church of Kontagora Diocese where the attack happened, Reverend Father Stephen Kabirat, told local media that more than 40 people were killed and that children were abducted.
Meanwhile, witnesses said the assailants rode motorcycles and indiscriminately fired at people. The attack, reportedly lasting up to three hours, left survivors fearful to retrieve some of the victims’ bodies due to the lack of security forces.
Borgu is located in the western part of Nigeria, bordering with Benin, and sitting nearly about 350 miles north of Lagos.
What People Are Saying
Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said in statement, per Reuters: “Over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, and some persons were also kidnapped. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims.”
Witness and victim Dauda Shakulle told Reuters: “Women and children were not spared. There has been no presence of security forces since the attacks began. We are currently recovering corpses.”
What Happens Next
With security forces reportedly deployed to the region, authorities said they’re actively searching for those who were abducted and to locate any survivors.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.